Facing severe criticism of his leadership, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca
finds himself confronting his toughest political test since he took the
helm of the nation's largest sheriff's department nearly 14 years ago.

A
damning presentation by investigators to a county commission examining
jail violence depicted Baca as a disengaged and uninformed manager who
failed to prevent abuse of inmates by jail deputies. Federal authorities
are investigating his department, including whether his deputies
brutalized prisoners and harassed minority residents of the Antelope
Valley. And the sheriff is facing growing political pressure to overhaul
his jails and revamp his senior management team.

"The sheriff should be sweating an awful lot of bullets," said Supervisor Gloria Molina. "This is his come-to-Jesus moment."

The
next few months will be crucial. Baca says he has already taken steps
to reduce violence in the jails and defends his record while also
resisting calls to discipline his top aides. His spokesman has said the
sheriff would not commit to carrying out all of the commission's
suggested reforms until he sees them. They are expected to be released
later this month.

Molina said she believes the sheriff is capable
of addressing the problems that afflict his jails but must get rid of
his top assistant, Undersheriff Paul Tanaka, who was accused by
commission investigators of urging deputies to be aggressive and
discouraging investigations of misconduct. She said she would call for
Baca's resignation if he does not embrace the commission's advice.